KULANU “all of us”

Helping Lost Jewish Communities 11603 Gilsan Street Silver Spring, MD 20902-3122 TEL: 301-681-5679 FAX: 301-593-1911 http://www.kulanu.org Info@kulanu.org

Volume 12 Number 4 Winter 2005—2006

New Seder Reading — see page 12

The Jerusalem Post reported on November 9, 2005, that Israel had acceded to India’s demands to stop converting 7000 Indian citizens who are practicing Bnei Menashe Jews. Six rabbis had been in India since September and had already for-mally converted 200. India opposes “proselytizing.” Expressing the outrage of the Bnei Menashe, many of whom have been practicing Judaism and awaiting the opportu-nity to immigrate to Israel for 10 years, T. Aviel Hangshing, president of the Bnei Menashe Council in India, wrote to the Indian Government to clarify the matter and to the Israeli Gov-ernment with a request to reconsider the matter. He urges Jew-ish leaders in the US to pressure Israel to allow the rabbis to continue their work in India. Here are his letters to the Indian and Israeli Governments: The Prime Minister, Government of India, New Delhi Subject : Visit of Rabbis from Israel for religious teaching to the Bnei Menashe (Lost Tribe of Israel) in N.E India. Sir, On behalf of Bnei Menashe Community of the North East India, I have the honour to bring to your kind notice the following clarifications. 1. The subject matter is in the context of Israel putting a stop to visits of Rabbis to teach Judaism to Bnei Menashe (one of the Lost Tribes of Israel) in North East India, namely Manipur and Mizoram since September 2005. We are given to understand from Israel’s Foreign Ministry sources that this action of Israel has been prompted by India’s expressed concerns with “attempts by Rabbis to aggressively convert Ten Lost Tribes for the last 45 years”. 2. These offhand actions have caused deep injuries to the

sentiment of the Bnei Menashe Community here. It must be realized that injustice and discrimination have been caused by the lack of understanding and absence of even the mini-mum effort to comprehend the true role of the Rabbis from Israel who have been visiting the Community here. 3. It must be clarified at the outset that the Rabbis have never indulged in the business of conversion, not to talk of Aggressive Conversion or Proselytisation of any degree. Not even ONE person from any other religion has ever been converted to Judaism by the Rabbis. If conversion means the process of changing one’s religion, this is clearly not the purpose of the visit of Rabbis to our Com-munity in the North East. The Rabbi’s work, of teaching the finer points of Judaism is confined to only the Bnei Me-nashe, who are one of the Lost Tribes of Israel and who are already in the practice of Judaism. There is, therefore, also no question of conversion of the Bnei Menashe Com-munity into Judaism as we are already Jews by practice and by heritage. In fact, it is at our instance that the Rab-bis have been coming, and we need them for the teaching and guidance that they provide on the finer points of our religion. Finally and most importantly each of us individu-ally needs them to ratify the Judaism we have been practic-ing. It must be understood that the use of the word “conversion” here is clearly misplaced. What is being done by the Rabbis is but a process of ratification of what already exists. 4. Over two millenniums have gone by since the Me-nashe Tribe of Israel were lost beyond the “Shabbath River”. During this period we had lost almost all our Jew-ishness. At this late hour of reckoning, when we are trying to find ourselves again, most importantly in our religious context, it is the Rabbis of Israel that we are most in need of. To deny us this, only because of political reasons or

(Continued on page 7)

KULANU (“ALL OF US”) is a tax-exempt organization of Jews of varied backgrounds and practices dedicated to find-ing lost and dispersed remnants of the Jewish people and assisting those who wish to (re)join the Jewish commu-nity. Kulanu is undertaking a variety of activities worldwide on behalf of these dispersed groups, including re-search, contacts, education, conversion when requested, and relocation to Israel if desired. This newsletter is pub-lished quarterly by Kulanu, 11603 Gilsan St., Silver Spring, MD 20902.

Bnei Menashe Respond to Halt of Conversions in India

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Passover begins sundown on April 12, and charoset is an integral part of the Passover Platter. The Kulanu newsletter will institute the practice of featuring some new charoset reci-pes in our pre-Pesach issue each year, starting here and now. We will also establish a place on the Kulanu web page where all the recipes can be viewed. Since charoset is meant to remind us of the mortar used with the bricks the Hebrew slaves made in Egypt, we start with an Egyptian recipe, taken from the Jewish-Food Passover Cha-roset archives, at <http://www.jewish-food.org>.

EGYPTIAN CHAROSET • 1 pound dried raisins • 8 ounces pitted dates • 1/4 cup sugar • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans • 2 cups water

Put raisins and dates in a bowl and cover with water. Let stand 1 hour. Add the sugar and whirl the mixture in a blender, a few spoonfuls at a time. or divide the mixture in thirds and place in a food processor. Transfer the chopped fruits to a heavy sauce-pan and let simmer over low heat until the fruits are cooked and the liquid is absorbed. It should take about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and place in a jar. When cool, sprinkle with chopped nuts. Makes about 4 cups

ABAYUDAYA CHAROSET Volunteer Sarah Gold describes this mixture from a seder in Nasenyi, Uganda in 2005: Pineapple, peanuts (they go by the Sephardi tradition), and raisins. At another seder in Uganda, Chaya Weinstein reported on a charoset made with peanuts, pineapple, and passion fruit, not-ing that apples were too costly.

And, from across the world, here is a Caribbean recipe of Tina Wasserman, who is Reform Judaism Magazine’s food colum-nist.

GAROSA CHAROSET FROM

CURACAO 2 ounces pitted dates, preferably Medjool 2 ounces pitted prunes 2 ounces dark raisins 2 ounces dried figs 2 cups unsalted peanuts 1/2 cup cashew nuts Grated zest from 1 medium-sized lemon 1/2 cup dark brown sugar 2 tablespoons honey 2 teaspoons cinnamon, plus additional for coating 1-2 tablespoons sweet Passover wine 1 tablespoon orange juice 1 teaspoon lemon juice Combine dates, prunes, raisins, figs, peanuts and cashews in a food processor work bowl. Pulse on and off until the contents are fairly small. (NOTE: Ashkenazi Jews customarily do not eat legumes, which include peanuts, on Passover.) Add the zest and remaining ingredients. Continue to process until mixture is moist and relatively smooth and firm. With palms, roll mixture into one-inch balls. Sprinkle some cinnamon on a small plate. Roll each ball in cinnamon to coat well. Place in one layer on a flat plate, until ready to serve. Refrigerate if making in advance. Yield: 3 dozen balls (or more)

CHAROSET RECIPES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

CHAG SAMEACH PESACH! Here are some gift ideas from

the Kulanu Boutique:

Aish Chai Lapel Pins Books

CDs Kippot

Tallitot

All proceeds help Kulanu and the communities we serve.

See page 11 for the order form or go to

www.kulanuboutique.com

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Introducing the Ethiopian North Shewa

Zionist Organization

A Special New Congregation in Brazil

By Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum Most Brazilian Anousim -- Jews who were forced to convert to Catholicism and managed to flee Portugal during and after the Inquisi-tion -- established themselves in the Northeast of Brazil, where they secretly practiced Judaism. In spite of not being accepted by normative Judaism, their descendants are growing and determined, and one group has even built its own synagogue. Maguen Abraham is a very small and very modest white house with windows and doors painted blue, displaying a golden star on its external façade. During the recent, unforgettable inauguration day, Chazan Isaac Essoudry, a Jew from Morocco who has supported the cause of the Marranos for over 20 years, presided. The community consists of descendents of the Marranos who get together to study and celebrate Jewish holidays and Shabbat. It feels like a miracle that 40 Marranos, mostly farm laborers, living in a place that is almost invisible on the map, many of them without running water and electricity in their houses, were able to gather the little re-sources they have to build a synagogue and return to their tradition.

Besides the hard work of the community, there are several people who are giving their support and are very important in establishing the synagogue. Ricardo Trigueiro, a lawyer from Recife, dedicates three days a month to visit the community, passing on his knowledge of Torah and Talmud. Luciano Oliveira, a young doctor from Campina Grande, will spend his vacation performing Brit Milah for all of the congregation’s male Anousim who are not yet circumcised. There is also João Medeiros, a retired engineer who is a sort of a "father figure" whom everybody consults. His story contains many interesting chapters, and details can be found in his book Nos Passos do Retorno (In the Steps of Return). There are several other volunteers involved, as well as members of the Brazilian Jewish and Anousim communities. No public or private organization contributed to the edification of the Maguen Abraham congregation. The Anousim/Marranos from the city of Brejo da Madre de Deus, under the leadership of Benedito Bez-erra de Souza, did everything themselves, driven by their faith and their hearts, with their hard earned money and strong hands. There is still a lot of work ahead. The community is adamant that money will not be accepted. For those wanting to assist this amazing community, here is a list of their needs: -religious books, especially the chumashim and siddurim in Portu-guese (available at www.sefer.com.br) - CD's (Piyutim and songs in Ladino and Hebrew) and DVD's (documentaries on Jewish history, Jewish personalities, Israel, etc.) - Kippot and tallitot These Brazilian Anousim have built their own synagogue. They need our (non-monetary) help. Please be generous in your support. For further information, please contact me at rufina@netactive.co.za.

We never know what will appear in the Kulanu mail! Here is a recent appeal that we were very happy to receive: We are the lost tribes of Israel, black Jewish (Beit Avraham) living in some North Shewa parts and Kechene Village, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We were born with and grow up with suffering, persecution, and discrimination. In the past hundred years our families have suf-fered discrimination and death because they are Jewish. Our ancestors led their lives with handcraft works such as blacksmithing, weaving and pottery, but other peoples count us as animals. They called us Buda (possessors of the evil eye or hyena eyes). But we are the chil-dren of GOD, the tribes of Judah, the descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Our families practice Judaism … in secret in the Forest, Cave and remote desert parts of North Shewa. Because we are hiding ourselves to keep our generation safe from perscution and death and to continue the offspring of GOD’s peoples, our Identity will be lost and unknown by the world Jewish community. To emancipate our communities from suffering, persecution and discrimination and to walk together with our brothers in the world, we the young Jews have established the “Ethiopian North Shewa Zionist Organization" officially to practice Judaism, to study Hebrew and history, to improve our living standard, to help each other, and to ful-fill our Zionism dream with the help of God of Israel (HaShem). But now, we have no sufficient capacity and resources to accom-plish our mission or objectives. So we request your organization to give us advice, information and material support related to our mis-sion objectives and we want to announce our Jewish community (Beit Avrahm) in your site and Newsletter. Please hear our voices in the world Jewish community! We are looking forward your attention and support. Sincerely yours, Mesfin Assefa Ethiopian North Shewa Zionist Organization P.O.Box 26495 Tel. 251-0911-662057 E- mail: ethiozionist@yahoo.com

President Jack Zeller immediately forwarded this message to Sam Taddesse, Kulanu’s co-coordinator for Ethiopian Jewry, and channels were opened:

Dear Mesfin: Dr. Jack Zeller asked me to respond to your request. I am very familiar with your community. Many of your community members are descendants of the brave Beta Israelis that took the young Emperor Menilik out of Emperor Theodores's prison in Gondar to Northern Shoa. Your people are also well known craftsmen and weavers. I also know of the diffculties you are faced with. What my friends and I are trying to do is establish Jewish community centers so that our people have a place of worship and a place to meet and socialize. At the same time we plan to open a couple of Technical and Vo-cational Training centers to enhance the skills of our young people so that their employability can increase or they can market their products locally and internationally. Solomon Akale and I are working with Jack to raise some seed money to jump-start these projects. I will be in Ethiopia in July and August and perhaps we can meet and chat… Best wishes, Sam Taddesse We hope to follow up with pictures and stories of this community in future newsletters.

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KULANU BRIEFS Matching Funds Needed

Several months ago the Jewish Youth Philanthropy Insti-tute provided a $3000 grant to Kulanu to be used by the Abayu-daya Jews of Uganda to construct a guest house, provided that matching donations of $3000 are raised. The Abayudaya are anxious to begin work on this project, but the $3000 cannot yet be released. Due to competing urgent needs, sufficient funds have not been raised yet for this purpose. The Abayudaya are in great need of a guest house of their own. They receive many visitors each year, visitors who pay money to hotels and restaurants in the nearby town of Mbale. Except for the new coffee project, the Abayudaya are mainly subsistence farmers. The guest house would allow members of the community to develop careers in hotel-keeping, catering, and tour-guiding. It would also be a convenience for travelers, many of whom desire to spend Shabbat with the Abayudaya without traveling back to hotels in town. Please make out contributions to Kulanu, earmarked for the “Abayudaya Guest House,” and send to: Harriet Bograd, Treasurer, 165 West End Ave. #3R, New York, NY 10023.

Translators Needed Kulanu needs volunteers who are fluent in French, Spanish and Portuguese to maintain correspondences with individuals and groups abroad. If you are available, please contact Karen Primack at Info@Kulanu.org.

New Websites The Abayudaya Jews of Uganda have developed an exten-sive website at www.abayudaya.or.ug, with history, programs and colorful photos. They have also established a community email address: info@abayudaya.or.ug. Hadassah and Yosef Harr-Ell have developed an African-American and Igbo Jews Network/Support Group, located at http://africanamerican-igbojewsnet.4t.com/. It discusses Afri-can American-Igbo identity and heritage, and explores prob-lems faced by this group. AF

Speakers Spread the Word On April 3, Rabbi Howard Gorin will speak at the Man-hattan JCC on “Jews of Nigeria: An Eyewitness Account.” The talk, to start at 7 pm, costs $15 for the general public. Ehav Eliyahu spoke on February 5 about “The Igbo Jews of Nigeria” as a presentation of the Schulman Chapel-in-the-Woods at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, NY. On January 12, Nissim Moses spoke at the Village Temple in New York City about the Genealogy of the Bene Israel Jews of India. He has developed a genealogy of more than 8500 Bene Israel family names going back to the 1650s. He is based in New Delhi. In December, the 92nd St. Y sponsored an evening with members of Chassida-Smella, NYC’s Ethopian Jewish commu-nity. The event included a Shabbat dinner at Makor, prayers, music, and speakers, including Itzhak Dessie, the first Ethio-

pian Israeli to receive his law degree in Israel. Dessie is execu-tive director of Tebeka Center for Legal Aid and Advocacy for Ethiopian Israelis. Amichai Heppner, Kulanu’s Coordinator for Mexico, was interviewed in December on Radio Sepharad. His interview, in Spanish, can be found in the archives online at www.radiosefarad.com/andromeda.php?q=m&m=/Uploads/Noticias/A051210tohuvabohu.mp3. Director Elaine Eiger spoke at a screening of her film A Star Hidden in the Backlands at the Washington Jewish Film Festival on November 8. The film features the journey of an Anous from Northern Brazil to reclaim his heritage. Kulanu activist Bob Feron provided the Portuguese-English simultane-ous translation. Prof. Rogelio B. Amaral spoke (in Spanish) on “Marranism and Crypto-Judaism in Mexico 1521-1857” on November 22 at the Tijuana Historical Society Hall. The lec-ture was scheduled to be given over the following two months in several other Mexican cities.

Tour of Jewish Greece The Association of Friends of Greek Jewry in East Meadow, NY, has announced that its annual tour of Jewish communities of Greece will be July 2-13, 2006. Sites will in-clude Athens, Ioannina, Arta, Preveza, and Corfu, with an op-tional extension to Salonika. For more info, contact AFGI@msn.com or tel. 516-221-2712 or 516-4565-9336.

Medieval Secret Synagogue Discovered

Behind a false wall of a four-story house he had purchased in Porto, Portugal, for use as an old people’s home, a parish priest discovered a 16th century holy ark -- a carved granite repository, about five feet tall, arched at the top and facing east toward Jerusalem. The ark contained pieces of decorative green tile that further confirmed its age. The secret synagogue protected Jews at a time when practicing their religion was banned in Portugal.

Annual Retreat The Jewish Multiracial Network has announced that its 9th annual summer retreat will be held on June 16-18 at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, CT. For in-formation, contact infoJMN@isabellafreedman.org or tel. 860-824-5991.

Refuah Shleyma To Mortimer Smith, a Kulanu supporter from Charlotte, NC. To Barbara Rosenblum, who chairs Kulanu’s Tucson Chapter.

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Mazal Tov! To singer, songwriter, and rabbinic student Noam Katz on the release of his second album, Mirembe, Salaam, v’Sha-lom. The recording features 12 songs in five languages from Africa, the Middle East, and the US. It is deeply influenced by Katz’s time as a volunteer with the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda in the winter of 2003-2004. The album can be or-dered through www.soundswrite.com. To American-Israeli writer/poet Sue Tourkin-Komet, recipient of a Writer’s Grant from Beit HaNassi, the Office of the Israeli President, to help subsidize publication of her first full-length book. She is a contributor to Kulanu’s book, Un-der One Canopy: Readings in Jewish Diversity and organizer of a literary event for the book in Jerusalem. To Shaanan Meyerstein, formerly a health volunteer in Uganda, who was accepted to the Ben Gurion University Medical School for International Health in conjuction with Columbia University. To Yohannes Zeleke and Ayumi Mita on the birth of daughter Hiroko in Washington in January. Yohannes is a Kulanu co-coordinator for Ethiopian Jewry. To David Vinik and Debra Gonsher Vinik, whose 60-minute documentary film And the Gates Opened: Women in the Rabbinate, has been nominated for a 2006 Emmy Award for Best Religious Programming. The program examines the struggle by women for the right to be ordained as rabbis. It originally aired on ABC-affiliated stations and is currently showing at film festivals across the US. The pair also pro-duced Moving Heaven and Earth, a 45-minute documentary on the conversion of Abayudaya Jews in Uganda in 2002 (this film is available in DVD and VHS through www.divacommunications.com).

Todah Rabah To Judy Neri on her generous contribution in honor of the birth of her grandson, Corey Cameron Starner. To Thanksgiving Coffee, which purchased $945 worth of Abayudaya kippot and CDs from Kulanu to include with their Mirembe Kawomera holiday gift packages. To Relly Coleman, who collected and sent eight boxes of high school and college textbooks to the Lemba in Zimbabwe. To these magnanimous donors: Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. $14,300, Madav IX Founda-tion $10,800, Estelle Friedman Gervis Charitable Founda-tion $5,000, Congregation Beth El of Fairfield $4,118. To these donors of $1000-2500: Congregation Beth El Ti-kun Olam Fund, Dr. Irving Moskowitz Foundation, Dr. Henry and Annelis Frenkel, Dr. Jules Harris, Edward & Rae Samiljan, Angela and Carl Milner (in honor of Laura Wetzle), Lois Levy, Ronnie Williams and Suzanne Ar-nopolin, Aron & Karen Primack, Hope and Matthew Feldman, Tenet Healthcare Foundation Employee Giving Programs, and the anonymous Israeli who donated over $1000 toward the construction of the Gihon synagogue in Abuja, Nigeria.

To the $500 Club: Morris Feder , Marcia Kaplan, Jan Katz, Aleene and Mortimer Smith, Temple Beth-El Rabbi's Dis-cretionary Fund (Rabbi Scott Glass) To these donors of $150-499: Rabbi Scott L. Glass, Marlene and Samuel Halperin, Bert Davidson, Steve, Aviva, and Shoshan Waldstein, Woodlands Community Temple, Ju-daic Treasures of Temple Emanu-El, Charles Fishman & Stephanie Peters, Harold Goldberg & Alisa Israel Gold-berg, Blu and Yitzhak Greenberg, Ron Guritzky, Rabbi Brant Rosen, Joe M. and Jean H. Victor, Louis Blumen-garten, Terrence D Kalley, Marshall & Sabina Primack, Sherman & Rita Shapiro, Temple Shalom, Cantor Mitz-vah Fund, Marvin Wolf, Howard Rosenbloom, Lauri Donahue and Rabbi Barry Leff, Mel & Margery Elfin, Martha Kahn, Henriette Klein, Lois Levyh, Altman-Arnow Charitable Foundation, Ira & Marilyn Polon, Rita Senders & Phil Silvestri, Baltimore Chavurah, David Holtz & Diane Glatt, Tikvat Israel Congregation. To the $100 Club: Lilly Aronson and Rich Stein, Rabbi Everett and Mary Gendler, Liz & Bill Adams, Audrey Asher, Judge Edward Avadenka, Dr. Stanley Azen, Irwin & Elaine Berg, Joseph Berman, Beth El Congregation of the South Hills, Barbara Birshtein, Jeanne Bodin, Benja-min & Suzanne Bronheim, Susan Light Carroll and Fran-cis Carroll, Norman & Elissa Chansky, Jonina Duker, Fabrangen Cheder Community, James Feldman and Nata-lie Wexler, Jeffrey M. Freedman, Elkan and Zelda Gamzu, Henry & Daryl Gelender, Harriette Hirsch, Joanne Kal-nitz, Joan N. Kerr, Theodore C. Kram, Jason S. and Norri K. Leder, Elihu Leifer, Rita and William Levin, Norma Markell, Jonathan Marshall, Brenda Miller, Judy Neri, Carl and Carol Oppenheim, Janet and Sidney Quint, Mi-chael Risman, Roberta and Lloyd Roos, Edie Rosenberg and Robert Gross, Stuart & Rachel Rosenberg, Mordecai & Paula Rosenfeld, Dr. Arnold and Leah Rotter, Daniel and Ruth Sachs, Laz & Ellen Schneider, Dr. Bernard & Debra Shleien, Peter & Betty Silverglate, Sol & Carol Silverman, Albert & Christine Singer, Marilyn & Frank Seiden, Miriam Slifkin, Amy Kahn,.Herman Storick, Dr. & Mrs. Lawrence Tannenbaum, Jacob & Orna Tsabar, Dr. Norman Weiss, Peggy & Mark Zilbermann.

Condolences Nehemia Jambingo, popularly known as master, a former treasurer of the Abayudaya community and chairman of Na-manyonyi Synagogue executive committee, passed away on January 5 in Uganda. Heartfelt condolences to his children, Moses Sebagabo and Susan Sabano, his sister, Tzipporah Sa-bano, and the entire Abayudaya community.

KULANU BRIEFS

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Introducing BINA: Ethiopian Jewish U.S. Organization

By Beejhy Barhany The Beta Israel of North America Cultural Foundation Inc. (BINA) is a non-profit organization established in 2001 to advocate on behalf of and promote the culture of Ethiopian Jews in Ethiopia, Israel and the US. It is the first organization of this nature created by and of Ethiopian Jews. Bina in Hebrew means “understanding.” BINA works to increase awareness to issues affecting the Beta Israel community and to provide opportunities for self-empowerment to Ethiopian Jews. Concurrently, BINA works to educate others of the Beta Israel culture and heritage through cultural showcases, confer-ences and lectures. Finally BINA works for a greater understanding and integration amongst various ethnic groups within the Jewish com-munity and beyond. BINA has utilized various methods and ac-tivities to promote its core ideals by inclusive programming and events. BINA has developed a cultural showcase, the annual Sheba Film Festival, which highlights -- through film and other artistic media -- the history, accomplishments and current travails that affect Ethiopian Jews. The Festival also serves to encourage the development of the artists and other creative persons who maintain our culture and way of

life. In the past BINA has also taken the lead amongst a coalition of groups to develop an Ethio-pian Chanukah party, held at the Manhattan Jewish Community Center in December 2004. The event presented Ethiopian Jewish speakers, an Ethio-pian Jewish singer, and artifacts and cultural items spe-cific to the Ethiopian Jewish community. Finally, BINA has developed vari-ous year-round activities, aimed at providing needed services to our com-munity. These in-clude: Temporary housing

placement for Ethiopian Jewish community members upon their arrival in New York; Networking for community members new to the area; Seminars and lectures to increase the experiences of the Ethiopian Jewish community; Legal aid to newcomers. BINA’s main office is in New York City, and this has been the primary geographical area within which we operate. As BINA grows, we will look to extend our services and aid to Ethiopian Jewish com-munities throughout the US and in Israel and Ethiopia. We at BINA wish to thank Kulanu for the support it has demon-strated in the past and hope that our relationship may continue to de-velop in the future. Readers can contact us at <Info@binacf.org>. Our web site is located at <www.binacf.org>. (The writer is executive director of BINA)

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Kulanu in Israel By Jack Zeller

Even in the “winter,” there is nothing un-engaging about Israel: the ever-curving streets, the courtyards, the terraced buildings, the stone on stones, each one creatively placed as a retaining wall, sides of buildings, walkways and even ones unmoved from the hills of Judea. Between the stones, wherever there is habitation, there are roses and geraniums and countless other flowers, many nameless in my memory, in full bloom, no matter the frost filled nights of Jerusalem. Perhaps the most breath-taking experience so far is to be stopped on the road between Modiin and Jerusalem. The line is short, the gun is pointed, and my less than good vision sees a dark-complexioned young soldier. I stop by his side; at this close range I now recognize what I call Kush, what others call Beta Israel, and what many call Fa-lasha. But the soldier is Israeli through and through. I barely can find a word. He says, “America is very good,” and waves me on. No encounter is without meaning. Gai, the technical representa-tive from Bezek who comes to my Jerusalem apartment, explains to me why I can’t get the DSL connection for at least another hour or two. He is very competent, caring, head shaven, without kippa, but gives me a departing lesson as I escort him to the apartment front door emblazoned with a gigantic Shalom. He asks me if I know all the names for God. I say “no”; he points to the Shalom and says this is yet another one for me to learn. Everything is so extemporaneous that my list of “things to do” quickly loses order. For sure I planned a visit with Avraham Neguise, a Kulanu friend, founder and leader of South Wing to Zion, an organi-zation of Ethiopian Jews who have very successfully advocated for aliyah to Israel. Early in the morning when I wait for Marc Oler, a major supporter of Havila in France, now briefly visiting in Jerusalem, Avraham Neguise spots me in the front of the largest department store in Jerusalem. We hug and talk and he tells me he wants to be MK (Member of the Knesset). I admire no one more than Avraham. Should I drop everything and have the privilege of helping him in his campaign? “America is very good,” I recall, but nothing is as good as Avraham. Marc and I sit down at a popular coffee house off BenYehuda Street, previously visited by a young man eager for a premature route to heaven. No signs of anxiety now when I am checked in by a young man who later tells me that he has been in Israel for nine years and he is very happy that his parents from Gondar arrived several years ago. Marc and I make a pact; we will not leave this shop till we have a better plan for Havila. We work, within reach of the Faitlovich and Ben Zvi legacy which brought Gondar to Israel more than a half cen-tury ago. Marc has worked with the Holocaust memorial community in France for many months now, successfully convincing their leader-ship that Tutsi are dying under the aegis of statesmen’s chicanery. We drink coffee and more coffee. Finally we are all coffee and ideas but no plan. We spend another day together. Nothing is better than Jeru-salem coffee, we exclaim, when Rabbi Kuperman in the US critiques our plan. We take the critique and move on. For those who have a Jamaican connection, please contact us and we will tell you more. Reaching Gershom Sizomu in Jerusalem is very easy; we live not far away. But 12 years ago we were an eternity apart, before the Pri-macks glued together what we all now recognize as the Kulanu flag-ship for an emerging African Jewry. Now the flagship leads us all; I call to ask Gershom, who is now a Tobin family sponsored rabbinical student at the University of Judaism, for advice and he invites me to his house tomorrow evening. I finally have my afternoon with Avraham Neguise. He is leading the “One Future” political party, which will stand for election in late March. “One Future” goes directly against the “politically correct thinking” that new olim are no longer needed or wanted because im-

(Continued on page 7)

Beejhy Barhany, left, BINA executive director, at the second annual Sheba Film Festival, held at

Faison Firehouse Theatre in Harlem

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Bnei Menashe Respond (cont.)

other misplaced sensitivities, would be most unkind. It will hurt our Community very deeply. 5. It is, therefore, my sincere request, on behalf of the Bnei Menashe Community of the North East that the Prime Minister of India and the MEA, be pleased to clar-ify the matter with the Israel Government so that the Rab-bis may resume their work with our Community without further inhibition or apprehension of any kind. Thanking you. Yours faithfully, T. Aviel Hangshing, President Bnei Menashe Council (Indo – Myanmar) * * * * * * The Prime Minister, Government of Israel, Jerusalem. Subject : Visit of Rabbis from Israel for religious teaching to the Bnei Menashe (Lost Tribe of Israel) in N.E India. Sir, I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of my letter dated the 11th December 2005 addressed to the Prime Minister of India, on the subject mentioned above, which is self explanatory. I, on behalf of Menashe Tribe of N.E India, request for your kind intervention in the matter, so that the Rabbis can continue their valuable work with our Community, without further hindrance. Shalom. Yours faithfully, T. Aviel Hangshing, President Bnei Menashe Council (Indo-Myanmar)

(Continued from page 1)

►The Prophet Elijah is a figure of more central importance in the lives of the Bene Israel community of India than any other Jewish community in the world. The Bene Israel have estab-lished a unique formal ritual which intimately connects Elijah with the individual Bene Israel throughout all the most impor-tant aspects of life, not only for rites of passage, but also in times of any crisis or danger, and on happy occasions. In all such circumstances, the Bene Israel turn to Eliahu ha-Navi. A very beautiful Eliahu ha-Navi Siddur has been prepared and published by the American Joint Distribution Committee of Mumbai (Bombay). These siddurim are being sold to raise funds for ADJC projects in India. For information on ordering, contact Saptekar@hotmail.com. ►Choosing To Be Jewish: The Orthodox Road to Conversion by Rabbi Marc Angel was published by KTAV last Septem-ber. Rabbi Angel is senior rabbi at Shearith Israel Congrega-tion, the historic Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in New York, and is the author of a number of books, including Voices in Exile: A Study in Sephardic Intellectual History. ►”Translation of Torah for India´s Bnei Menashe Nearly Com-plete,” by Baruch Gordon, appeared in Arutz-7 on January 24. It tells of Shavei Israel’s translation of the Book of Exodus into Mizo, one of the languages of the Bnei Menashe. ►Nicholas Wade’s NY Times article of January 14, “New Light on Origins of Ashkenazi in Europe,” reports on a new DNA study by Israeli researchers. The study, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, finds that four women

(Continued on page 10)

PUBLICATIONS

Bnei Menashe Boys at Shavei Israel Hebrew Center in Aizawl, Mizoram

ported transient labor is abundant. Neguise says new immigrants are the heart beat of Israel’s essence. He is quick to acknowledge that the unemployment rate for new olim is unusually high and his party will go head on against the underlying reasons for this sad circumstance that degrades all aspects of Israeli life including security. Neguise is not without very reasonable and attractive programs to back his goals. One example: he wants Americans to volunteer in Israel to work with new olim hand-to-hand for many months on end. Neguise is convinced that American “can do” skills are transferable and would create an improved economy and a new class of Israeli entrepreneurs. How soon can this start? I asked Avraham. “The begin-ning of March is fine,” which is the time that Americans can work hand-to-hand with new olim to elect members of the next Knesset. (Others prominent on the new party list are three other olim: Michael Corinaldi, Michael Freund, Yosef Abramowitz, and Yeheskel Stelzer.) If you want to help, call 011 972 2 6566424 or send an e-mail to avra-hamneguise@hotmail.com. Kulanu’s email list is open on a laptop computer even in Jerusa-lem. Ed Samiljian, one of the great Kulanu pioneers, asks about the Jews of Senegal. I refer him to George Lichtblau’s article on our web site that makes multiple references to Senegal. George, z’l, still has a voice and memory, because, like Israel, nothing is un-engaging in Kulanu.

(Continued from page 6)

Kulanu in Israel (cont.)

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Portugal News and Needs With the assistance of Roger M. Mendes of the Portuguese Foundation, the Portuguese Government recently recognized our Portuguese-Jewish heritage with a grant, enabling the pay-ment for six months of tuition fees for our young yeshiva stu-dent, Yosef (Jose Joao) Mendes Rodrigo, who is now well into his third year of rabbinical studies at the Sephardi Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Baruch Hashem! Our Portuguese-Jewish heritage and history --the contribution made by our ancestors -- are be-ing acknowledged at last!. We receive increasingly positive reports on Yosef’s pro-gress from the yeshiva. Once his rabbinical studies are com-pleted he will be returning to the community of Belmonte, where he was born and where he, together with the Jewish com-munity of the village, returned formally to normative Judaism in the 1990s. What happy news to share! We who are a part of Saudade Sefarad’s efforts regarding the Anousim of Portugal and Brazil have some way to go yet, but we have started on this new and exciting journey. Thank you to all who have helped make this a reality and thank you to Kulanu for its moral support and trust over the years. There are signs of hope as this year the Sephardi chief rabbi Shlomo Amar, together with the rabbinical court in Israel, officially recognized the Bnei Menashe of India (thanks to Shavei Israel) as one of the "Lost Tribes". It is said that "All who preserve a single soul of Israel . . . it is as if he preserved an entire world." Why then are we still battling the powers that be? Why after a number of rabbis have ruled that the Anousim should be welcomed back and treated as Jews are we still facing resistance from many rabbinical courts who want to impose a conversion instead of a return? We ask for your continued support and prayer as we wait for the decision to be made by the Beit Din of Israel on the status of the Anousim. May HaShem grant us patience as well as granting our leaders the wisdom and humility needed in making this important ruling. Please assist us in keeping Yosef at the yeshiva by mak-ing your tax-deductible donation to The American Sephardi Federation, noting "Belmonte Project -for Yosef" on the memo line, and mail to: The American Sephardi Federation, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY 10011-6301, NY, USA. Your gift honors the power of the Anousim and the Belmonte Jew-ish community's faith over the centuries and our own religious freedom. Rufina Bernardetti Silva Mausenbaum Johannesburg, South Africa www.saudades.org rufina@netactive.co.za http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saudades-sefarad

Urgent Appeal on Behalf of Abayudaya College Students

This is an urgent appeal for help in raising the tuition funds to support six wonderful Jewish university students in Uganda. For the past six years, I have made it my personal tzedakah commitment to raise funds to support this project. I have dedi-cated all of the royalties from the Smithsonian Folkways CD I recorded and produced for this project and with the help of generous individuals, have been able to support this project on my own since I first spent time with the community in 2000. When there were one or two students in university, I was able to raise these funds by myself. The good news is that this year, the community has six students in university, including the first woman. Tuition for these students is now approximately $9,000 a term. I turn to you for your help so they won't have to disrupt their studies. Are there individuals you can turn to who will make a gen-erous donation? Are there synagogue tzedakah projects that would support this project? Are there rabbis who would consider a donation from their discretionary funds? It would certainly be possible for individuals or communi-ties to form a special relationship with a specific student to see him or her through his or her education. It has been a privilege and a joy for me to be involved in this project, to see how education has been trans-forming these young people and to see the powerful impact this has made on the Abayudaya community. I am thrilled that more students need our involvement. I remain enthusiastic and committed to this project but now realize that I simply can not do this alone. While every donation will help, in truth, I think we will be more effective if we can work to find larger dona-tions and donors who might form a relationship with the com-munity over time. Please be in touch with your thoughts and suggestions. Checks can be made out to "Tufts Hillel/Abayudaya Project" and sent to my attention: Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, Granoff Fam-ily Hillel Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155. I thank you deeply for your involvement, now, when this need is pressing. Rabbi Jeffrey Summit Medford, Massachusetts jsummit@tufts.edu

New Indian Jewish Group Already Meeting Needs

The Indian Jewish Congregation of USA was started in September of 2005. We received an appeal from the Indian Jewish Federation in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) that the Beth El Synagogue in Panvel had suffered damage to its building and all its six Sifrei Torah were totally destroyed and could never be used. The IJC of USA decided to send at least two Sifrei Torah to the synagogue. One was handed over to Beth El on October

LETTERS TO KULANU

Page 9

9. The second has also been purchased from funds collected from philanthropic individuals and organizations in the USA and was recently air-freighted to Mumbai to the Indian Jewish Federation, who will give it to the Panvel Synagogue. Besides the two Sifrei Torah, the Village Temple in New York City has given IJC of USA about 90 chumashim, a silver yad and a silver mezuzah. These are also being sent to Mum-bai. Some chumashim will be given to the Panvel Synagogue and others to different synagogues in Mumbai and other centers where needed. This donation was made at a wonderful and joyous joint Sabbath with the Village Temple on November 11. Shearith Israel Synagogue of NYC also donated 50 daily prayer books and High Holiday books, which were distributed to all those who attended the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at the Village Temple. The aim of the IJC of USA is to provide direct help and assistance to members of the Jewish Community in India work-ing in close collaboration with the Indian Jewish Federation in Mumbai, which is spearheaded by Jonathan Solomon, A.B.E. Medhekar, A.C.P. Samson, and others. The IJC will organize with different US organizations to give educational and medical aid to our Jewish brothers and sisters who have to go without them for lack of funds. We also want to provide for Jewish education to Jewish members in India. A more ambitious project is to also allow the Jewish com-munity to grow in the US itself by possibly having a semi-permanent location for meetings and religious/social discourses. This is being worked on. The idea is to finally have Sabbath services initially once a month and then once a week. A lecture on the genealogy of the Bene Israel was organ-ized at the Village Temple premises on January 12. This was given by Nissim Moses, who now resides in New Delhi. He has prepared a computer program which can trace the lineage of different families going back to 1656. The lecture was well received by all and probably on his next visit we shall organize a few more lectures. My fellow trustees are Sam Daniel, John Perry, Lael Daniel, David Galsurkar and Noreen Daniel. We request all our Jewish members in USA to participate and actively contrib-ute your time and services to make this a success. Romiel Daniel, Trustee Rego Park, NY jewsofindia@yahoo.com

LETTERS

KULANU PERSONNEL Board of Directors Jack Zeller (President) Aron Primack (Vice President) Karen Primack (Secretary) Harriet Bograd (Treasurer) Rabbi Moshe Cotel Regional Coordinators Brazil Regina Igel China Ray Kaplan Ecuador Ed Samiljan Ethiopia Sam Taddesse Yohannes Zeleke Ghana Bluma Teram India Romiel Daniel Mexico Max Amichai Heppner Nigeria Ehav Eliyah South Africa Sandy Leeder Tutsi Rabbi David Kuperman Uganda Laura Wetzler Other Appointments Archivist Joe Hantman Liaison to Saudades Rufina B. Silva Mausenbaum Liaison to Masorti Olami Moshe Cotel List Moderators Ray Kaplan, Harriet Bograd, Jack Zeller Boutique Coordinator Tamu Ngina Newsletter Editor Karen Primack Speakers Bureau Ray Kaplan Volunteer Coordinator Emily Chaya Weinstein Webmaster Stevy Epstein Coordinator for Schools, Lauri Donahue Camps, and B'nai Mitzvah

Happy Pesach! We hope for freedom for

everyone soon!

Cantor Romiel Daniel

Page 10

PUBLICATIONS (cont.) who lived 2000-3000 years ago, probably in the Middle East, are the ancestors of 40% of today’s Ashkenazi Jews. This corrects assump-tions previously made that Middle Eastern men came to Europe as traders and took wives from the local populations. The study, rather, suggests that the men and their wives migrated to Europe together. The researchers are Doron Behar and Karl Skorecki of the Technion and Ramban Medical Center in Haifa. ► “Hidden in Plain Sight,” a lengthy story with photographs by Bryan Schwartz, appeared in the Winter 2005 issue of B’nai B’rith Magazine. It argues that the solution to the Jewish demographic cri-sis may be found in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and goes on to describe the developing Jewish communities in Nigeria, Ghana, Zim-babwe, Etihiopia, India, and the Americas. ►“A Centuries-old Religious Secret is Uncovered in Northern Portu-gal,” by Barry Hatton, was published by the Associated Press on December 21. It reports on the discovery by a Roman Catholic priest of a hidden synagogue behind a four-story house in Porto-Portugal. ►The Jewish News of Greater Phoenix carried a December 9 article by Florence Gbolu entitled “Shabbat in Ghana.” The author is a young Christian Ghanaian journalist. The article includes a history of the Sefwi Wiawso Jews, a description of their observance of Shabbat, and generous mention of Kulanu, particularly Harriet Bograd, who provided background information. ►Brett Kline’s December 8 JTA article, “School for Immigrants Blazes Trail for Ethiopians,” examines the educational program at Yemin Orde Village, where 250 young Ethiopian Jewish immigrants learn. ►Debbie Berman’s Arutz Sheva article, “Thousands Flock to Jeru-salem for Traditional Festival of Sigd,” appeared on December 6. In Ethiopia, the holiday is marked by fasting Jews marching in the morning to a mountain peak, led by kessim (Jewish spiritual leaders) carrying Torahs. Prayers and readings are recited. In the afternoon, back in the villages, the fast is broken with joyous meals and dancing, connecting the receiving of the Torah with a hoped-for return to Jeru-salem. ►Matthew Schonfeld of Chappaqua, NY, was honored with a photo in the Westchester Jewish Chronicle in December. As part of his bar mitzvah project, he purchased Abayudaya kippot and distributed them to his guests. He also connected his Torah portion (Vayera, where Abraham was hospitable to strangers) with our duty to be hospitable to other Jewish communities, such as the Abayudaya. ►The November/December 2005 issue of Jewish Currents featured, in Lyber Katz’s “Around the World” column, a piece, entitled “Delicious Peace,” on the arrival of Abayudaya coffee on the world market. The brand name of the coffee, from a 400-farmer coop in Uganda led by Abayudaya leader J.J. Keki, is Mirembe Kawomera, which translates from the Luganda as “Delicious Peace.” ►An Arutz 7 article, “First Outreach Center for Brazilian Anousim Opens,” by Baruch Gordon, appeared November 30. It reports the opening in Recife, Brazil, of Beit Aryeh – the Shavei Israel Center for Bnai Anousim. It is headed by Rabbi Avraham Amitai, the Israeli rabbi serving in northeastern Brazil under the sponsorship of the Shavei Israel organization. ►Ruth Almog’s November 18 Haaretz article, “Cryptic, These

(Continued from page 7) Crypto Jews, discusses a new Hebrew translation of an 80-year-old book. The book, New Christians in Portugal in the 20th Century, by Samuel Schwarz, describes the author’s encounter with descendants of Crypto-Jews in Belmonte, Portugal, in the 1920s. ►Matthew Wagner’s November 9 article in the Jerusalem Post, “Bnei Menashe Conversions Halted,” tells of Israel’s accession to Indian demands to stop converting 7000 Indian citizens who are Bnei Menashe practicing Jews. Six rabbis, all state employees, had been in India since September and had already converted 200 Bnei Me-nashe. India opposes proselytizing. An Israeli official stated that the current government in India is less friendly to Israel than the previ-ous one. ►BBC News presented an online photo journal by Anna Borzello on November 8, introducing the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. ►Excerpts from a letter written by Rabbi Jules and Navah Harlow were published in the November Masorti Olami Monthly Newsletter. In it, they report on their 12-day teaching visit last September to Anousim in Lisbon. They describe a “group of people who are pas-sionate in their desire to become Jews halakhically.” The rabbi and rebbetzin met for three intensive hours each evening with the group of “survivors – of the Inquisition.” They also spent two inspirational Shabbatot together. ►Jean Haskell’s article, “My Visit to the Ethiopian Jews in Gon-dar,” appeared in the Fall 2005 issue of NACOEJ’s Lifeline. It de-scribes the NACOEJ synagogue and educational compound in Gon-dar, feeding programs, and her visit with Getu Zemene, the elected leader of the Gondar Jews. ►An October 29 NY Times article, “Hispanics Uncovering Roots as Inquisition’s ‘Hidden’ Jews,” by Simon Romero, discusses a wave of conversions of Hispanics in the Southwest US. The article singles out the efforts of Texas Rabbis Stephen Leon and Stuart Federow. ►Austin Merrill’s “Letter from Ghana” appeared in The Forward on October 28. The article describes the Twi-speaking Jewish com-munity in the New Adiembra neighborhood of Sefwi Wiawso. The community reads each sentence of the Torah reading aloud three times – in Twi, English, and a colloquial mixture of Twi and English. The community leader, David Ahenkorah, has purchased 40 acres for a school and will raise funds for construction. ► “Preserving the Heritage,” by Renee Levine Melammed, ap-peared in the Jerusalem Post on October 13. It reviews some Inqui-sition trials in which women in Spain confessed to participation in activities related to Yom Kippur and Sukkot in the late 15th and 16th centuries. ► “Ethiopian-Jewish group Highlights Multiple Identities,” by Ra-chel Bohrer, is a September 18 cover story in the Miami Herald on a performance by the Israel-based group Bahalachin. To date, Miami is the only North American city to have hosted the troupe, which has performed throughout Israel and Europe.

Page 15

The Kulanu Boutique Also accessible online — with photos — at www.KulanuBoutique.com

Aish Chai Lapel Pin, sterling silver and gold plate. Proceeds benefit descendants of Anousim. Under One Canopy: Readings in Jewish Diversity, a 162-page book of poems, essays, stories, and songs by Sephardi, Ashkenazi, Mizrahi, African, and Asian Jews. Proceeds benefit Kulanu. Jews in Places You Never Thought Of, a 305-page hardback which includes descriptions of personal interactions with returning and emerging Jewish groups around the world; over 30 photographs. Proceeds benefit Kulanu.. Shalom Everybody Everywhere! acclaimed recording of the unique sounds of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. Hear traditional Jewish liturgy and new compositions set to African melodies and rhythms, in English, Hebrew, Luganda, and Swahili. Proceeds benefit Abayudaya. Hand-crocheted Ugandan Kippot, dual-colored in two shapes, skullcap and pill-box. Proceeds benefit the Abayudaya. Hand-Woven Ugandan Tallitot, white with colored stripes, bag included. Proceeds benefit the Abayudaya. Challah Covers from Ghana, very colorful with fine machine embroidery. Proceeds benefit the Sefwi Wiawso Jewish community. Hand-woven Bnei Menashe Tallitot, white with black or blue stripes. Proceeds benefit the Bnei Menashe. Hand-crocheted Bnei Menashe Kippot (skullcap shape only), muted colors. Proceeds benefit the Bnei Menashe.. Abayudaya: The Jews of Uganda. 160 pages of beautiful photographs with text by Richard Sobol, complete with a CD of Abayudaya music, with notes, compiled by Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, an ethnomusicologist. Proceeds benefit Kulanu and the Abayudaya. Make Joy Not War, Alula Tzadik’s CD of Ethiopian and traditional Jewish songs with a World Beat. Proceeds benefit Kulanu. Kente Cloth Ghanaian Tallitot, strip-woven by hand with embroidery. Proceeds benefit the Jews of Sefwi Wiawso and Kulanu NAME_________________________________________________________________ Tel # __________________________ ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Email address, PLEASE __________________________________________________________________________________ Number Cost Each Total Aish Chai Lapel Pin _______ $30.00 _______ Under One Canopy: Readings in Jewish Diversity _______ $15.00 _______ Jews in Places You Never Thought Of _______ 29.50 _______ Shalom Everybody, Everywhere! CD _______ 15.00 _______ Cassette SPECIAL SALE!! _______ 7.00 _______ Hand-crocheted Kippot of the Abayudaya: pillbox-shape various colors _______ 15.00 _______ (sorry, no returns!

Kente Cloth Ghanaian Tallit _______ $180.00 _______

Challah Covers from Ghana. _______ 30.00 _______ (for 12, $25 each and $15 shipping) Multi-colored tallit of the Abayudaya _______ 100.00 _______ Tallit of the Bnei Menashe _______ 100.00 _______ Kippah of the Bnei Menashe _______ 15.00 _______ Abayudaya: The Jews of Uganda (List price $75) ______ 52.50 _______ Make Joy Not War CD _______ 15.00 _______ Shipping ______________ GRAND TOTAL ______________ Make checks payable to “KULANU” — mail to Kulanu Boutique, 1834 Whitehall St., Allentown, PA 18104. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

U.S. Shipping: add for shipping based on total pur-chase $0.00—$15.00 add $4.00 $15.01—$49.99 add $7.00 $50.00—$99.99 add $9.00 $100.00—$199.99 add $10 $200.00 or more add $15.00 For International orders, follow the table and add an additional $15 per order

NEW

Kulanu Helping Lost Jewish Communities C/o Harriet Bograd 165 West End Ave, 3R New York, NY 10023 Address Service Requested

Deadline for next issue: April 15, 2006 Recycled Paper Edited by Karen Primack

Nonprofit Org. US Postage Paid Suburban MD Permit No. 05107

FOR YOUR SEDER: The Four Questions (Ma Nishtana) in Luganda

Translated by Gershom Sizomu Lwakyi ekyiro kyino kyanjawulo kubiro ebilala byonna? Mubiro ebilala byonna tulya emigati emizimbulukuse oba egitali mizimbulukuse; mukyiro kyino tulya emigati egitali mizimbulukuse zokka. Mubiro ebilala byonna tulya enva zonna zonna; mukyiro kyino tulya enva ezikawa zokka. Mubiro ebilala byonna tetukoza omulundi nogumu; mukyiro kyino tukoza emirundi ebiri. Mubiro ebilala byonna tulya tutudde oba nga tweganzise; mukyiro kyino tulya tweganzise. Why is this night different from all other nights? On all other nights we may eat either leavened or unleavened bread, but on this night only unleavened bread. On all other nights we may eat any species of herbs, but on this night only bitter herbs. On all other nights we do not dip even once, but on this night we dip twice. On all other nights we eat either sitting or reclining, but on this night we all recline. Reprinted from Under One Canopy: Readings in Jewish Diversity Available from the Kulanu Boutique (see page 11 or www.kulanuboutique.com)

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